Animal shelter struggles, but asked to take on more

DANIELSVILLE - The Madison-Oglethorpe Animal Shelter is having a bad year.

So far financial woes, a lack of space and volunteers and a parvo outbreak have plagued the facility - and it's only May.

It's just a typical year at an animal shelter, said Denise Allen, a charter member of the shelter's board of directors.

"That's just the nature of it," Allen said. "That's why I don't get discouraged."

Now, the Madison County government and animal rights' advocates have asked the shelter to open its doors to dogs and cats seized by animal control. The move would save hundreds of animals that otherwise would be euthanized at local veterinary clinics.

Animal control picked up 213 animals in 2007, government officials said, and many of them would have made good pets.

Commissioners met with shelter's board of directors a month ago to discuss the issue. But to be able to take in the hundreds of extra cats and dogs on top of the 121 animals already living at the shelter, the facility would need more employees, volunteers and space, Allen said.

Madison County already pays about $85,000 a year to help fund the shelter, but would increase its contribution to allow for more animals at the facility, commissioners said. They also voted Monday to get a cost estimate to have the shelter's books audited to see where money could be saved.

The shelter board is receptive to allowing more animals, Allen said, but the request couldn't have come at a worse time.

Shelter Director Cat Lindsey resigned last month after three years on the job, and until someone fills her spot, the facility is struggling to get by each day, Allen said.

Commissioners, local animal activists and the shelter board began to talk in February about how to get more money and volunteers, Andrews said, and the shelter's problems should motivate animal lovers and county officials, not deter them.

"Us extending our hand seems to be met with a lot of resistance," he told commissioners at Monday's board meeting.